As we become more dependent on connected technology to manage our homes and companies, cybersecurity is the top concern for a lot of users. However, the type of threats that IoT devices are exposed to are vastly different from those that are encountered on traditional computers. They require an entirely new set of tools and strategies to defend against them.
It’s no surprise that malware attacks on IoT devices are on the rise. Each type of device has its own operating system software, features, and functions. A lack of standard software could also make it difficult to develop security tools that can be used on multiple devices.
In 2016, threat actors employed a simple hack on IoT devices to launch one of the biggest botnet attacks in the history of the internet that caused chaos on the Internet and rendering websites like The New York Times, Brian Krebs’s website, and French web host OVH unavailable for hours. The attackers scanned the Internet to find default usernames and passwords for IoT devices. They then gathered a horde of these users in order to launch DDoS attacks.
Antiviruses and IoT play a vital role in defending against these kinds of threats. This type of security software, however, must extend its vigilance to ensure that IoT devices communicate with each other as well as with the outside world. It should also maintain strict password guidelines, 2-factor authentication, and current patching. Combined with other security solutions, these measures form an effective defense against IoT threats.